Compare towns
Maynard vs West Bath vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most renters (25% rent).
West Bath has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Maynard | West Bath | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712 |
1,863Lowest |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| West Bath and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Bath and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 165% above U.S. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #166 of 282 in MA | — | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | West Bath Public Schools | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.